Glossary

Core concepts

Our glossary defines key concepts that inform our work.

Acoustic Interdependence
The concept that individuals and communities are interconnected through their shared sound environment. Changes in one person's or group's noise-generating behavior (e.g., playing loud music, dog barking) can impact the acoustic comfort, well-being, and behavior of others.

Acoustic Security
A reasonable sense of security that noise pollution will not disrupt one's environment in a given time and place.

Geo-cultural Distance
The geographic proximity of individuals with divergent cultural norms and values. A high geo-cultural distance represents a low geographic distance and a high cultural distance (e.g. neighbors who disagree on noise-related norms). Geo-cultural distance is a scientific construct that combines geographic data, cultural metrics, and mathematical modeling to quantify differences in cultural norms and expectations around noise. By visualizing and calculating these differences, geo-cultural distance highlights potential hotspots of conflict and helps inform policies and interventions tailored to specific communities.

Golden rule vs. Rainbow Rule
The 'Golden Rule' states: do unto others as you would have done unto yourself.
The 'Rainbow Rule' states: do unto others as they would have done unto themselves.
The Golden Rule allows the decision maker to remain in an egocentric perspective - considering only their own perspective as the basis of deciding about another's interests. The Rainbow Rule instead requires the decision maker to actually understand what others wish or prefer in terms of impact on their lives (see Cox 2023). 

Neighborhood Noise Policies
Regulations and guidelines aimed at managing and mitigating noise pollution in residential areas. These policies define acceptable noise levels, quiet hours, and enforcement mechanisms to balance the diverse needs of residents while promoting a harmonious living environment.

Noise Habituation
The psychological and physiological adaptation to persistent noise over time, which can lead to desensitization.

Noise Sensitization
The psychological and physiological adaptation to persistent noise over time, which can lead to hyper-sensitization and increased stress responses that can lead to physiological and psychological health problems.

Noise Norms
The socially and culturally determined expectations about acceptable noise levels, sources, and times in a given context. Noise norms vary across communities, influenced by factors like cultural background, geographic location, and demographic composition.

Noise Normulators
Open source technology platforms to use simulated or real--world data to model soundscapes through GIS mapping of geo-cultural distance measures to identify potential neighborhoods of conflict for prevention or mediation, in the context of specified neighborhood noise policy frameworks. 

Noise Pollution
Any noise identified as undesireable by an individual or community. Importantly, not all individuals or communities will agree on which noises count as pollution, or even the scope or depth of impact that such noise pollution may have on any given individual or community. Thus, there is a need to use Noise Normulators to better clarify assumptions and impacts related to neighborhood noise policies.

Noise Sensitivities
The degree to which individuals or groups are affected by or react to noise. Noise sensitivities can be influenced by biological, psychological, and situational factors, such as age, health conditions, or previous exposure to noise pollution, and are critical in shaping individual responses to noise.

Soundscape
The overall acoustic environment of a place, encompassing all sounds, both natural (e.g., birdsong, wind) and human-made (e.g., traffic, conversations). The soundscape reflects the identity of a location and influences the well-being and quality of life of its inhabitants.